Programme of Study for Geography
KS4 - Years 10 and 11
(Edexcel, specification A, 1312)
» EDEXCEL - Advanced Learning, changing Lives

These six topics will be taught for over two years.
The Physical world:
A - Rivers:
• The change in the characteristics of a river and its valley between source and mouth
• The formation of interlocking spurs, meanders, ox-bow lakes, floodplains, levees and deltas
B - Glaciers:
• The build up of ice and the formation of corries
• The formation of U-shaped valleys, truncated spurs, hanging valleys, ribbon lakes, moraines, pyramidal peaks and arêtes
C - Coasts:
• The impact of erosion, weathering and mass movement on the coast: cliffs and wave-cut platforms, headlands and bays, caves, arches, stacks and stumps
• The impact of transportation and deposition on the coast: beaches, spits and bars
The Human world:
A - Population
• Global population change
• The balance between birth and death rate
• Change due to migration
• Reasons for changing patterns of birth and death rates
• The demographic transition model
• Classification of populations using age, sex, ethnic, religious and occupational structure
• Population pyramids
• Differences between urban and rural populations
• The impact of youthful and ageing populations and the dependency ratio
B - Settlement
• Physical and economic factors affecting the location, shape and growth of settlements
• Case study of one urban area in a MEDC (Reading in UK) and one in a LEDC (Bangalore in India) to describe and explain the characteristics and locations of the CBD, twilight zone, industrial areas and different residential zones
The Economic world:
A - The Three Economic Sectors
• The relative importance of primary, secondary and tertiary industries in countries at different states of development
• The change in relative importance of the sectors over time within countries at different states of development
B - Farming:
• A study of intensive wet rice farming in a LEDC (wet rice farming in the Ganges region in India)
• A study from the EU to consider changes affecting farm systems (Home farm in the UK)
C - Industry
• In MEDCs: the broad, physical, economic, political and human factors affecting the location of secondary industries
• A study of one modern high tech industry to consider the specific factors affecting its location (Bracknell in the UK)
• In LEDCs: the nature of the formal and informal sectors
• A study of the factors attracting one TNC to a particular country (Fiat in Brazil)
The Natural world:
A - Weather and Air Masses
• The origins and characteristics of main air masses affecting the UK
• How the air masses influence weather in the UK, and make it so changeable
• Characteristic weather conditions associated with anticyclones and depressions
• The use of synoptic charts and satellite images to show weather conditions
B - Continental and Maritime Climates
• Characteristics of west European maritime climates and east European continental interior climates and contrast between them
• Factors affecting these climates: distance from the sea, ocean currents, latitude
• Characteristic weather conditions associated with anticyclones and depressions
• The use of synoptic charts and satellite images to show weather conditions
C - Forests
• The global distribution of tropical rainforests, temperate deciduous and temperate coniferous forests (taiga)
• The way in which trees in tropical rainforests and taiga have adapted to the natural environment
• Characteristic weather conditions associated with anticyclones and depressions
• A study of a tropical rainforest system to show the ideas of conservation, exploitation and sustainable development, and the roles of different interest groups and the conflicts between them
Managing Hazards:
A - Hurricanes
• The global distribution of tropical storms
• Characteristics of a tropical storm
• Impact of a tropical storm on people and their environment in a LEDC (Cyclone in Bangladesh, 1991)
• Impact of a tropical storm on people and their environment in a MEDC (Hurricane Floyd in USA, 1999)
  » Hurricanes: Nature's Greatest Storms
B - Earthquakes
• The characteristic features of the four main plate boundaries and their distribution
• How are earthquakes managed in MEDCs?
• Prediction, short-term and long-term responses
• Sources of available aid
  Case study of an earthquake in a MEDC (Kobe in Japan, 1995)
  » British Geological Survey Seismology Home Page
C - Volcanoes
• How are volcanic eruptions managed in LEDCs?
• Prediction, short-term and long-term responses
• Sources of available aid
• Case study of a volcanic eruption in a LEDC (Pinatubo in Philippines, 1991)
  » Volcanoes!
Managing Tourism
• The causes of the rapid growth of tourism
• Tourists can be classified by: nature of activity, locational preference, duration of trip, distance travelled
• The multiplier effect
• The impact that the growth of tourism has had on people and their environment in a MEDC (Ayia Napa in Cyprus)
• The impact that the growth of tourism has had on people and their environment in a LEDC (Inca trail in Peru)
• An example of conservation and sustainable tourism in a LEDC (Galapagos islands, Ecuador)
• An example of conservation and sustainable tourism in a MEDC (Lake District in UK)
OR Managing Urban areas and Managing the environment
Coursework: Coastal Processes at Swanage
• All candidates must undertake a geographical investigation supported by fieldwork
• The coursework will involve a process of enquiry that demonstrates their understanding and skills within a geographical context
• The coursework must have involved the individual candidate in primary data collection through direct fieldwork
• Candidates are required to submit one item of coursework that will be internally assessed and externally moderated by Edexcel.
  Field Trip – The highlight is the three-day fieldwork trip at the end of April. It is currently based at Swanage by the seaside. Lots of fresh air, hard work but some fun too! This provides the basis for the coursework which makes up 25% of the total marks and is completed at the end of year 10.
 
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